Clean water is vital to the health and well-being of all life on the planet. Lack of safe water causes dehydration and disease in humans and insufficient growth in plants. Here are some reasons why clean water is important.
Prevents Disease
When water is full of bacteria and toxins, it can lead to disease in nearby populations since water isn’t something that can be avoided. People need water to drink, cook and bathe, and bottled water isn’t always a practical replacement. Vulnerable populations such as infants, the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions are particularly at risk for the illnesses that contaminated water can cause. Diseases spread more quickly without clean water to wash your hands, wash produce, and disinfect surfaces. Consider oil water separators North Carolina or other methods to ensure a clean supply of water in your area.
Needed for Agriculture
Clean, fresh water is needed for healthy plants and animals as well as humans. An outbreak due to contaminated water can upset the entire food chain and affect people who live thousands of miles from where the outbreak occurred. In addition, contaminated crops and meat can affect unsuspecting people who may have no idea that their food was grown in unsanitary conditions.
Keeps the Ecosystem in Balance
It might seem like small amounts of pollution in lakes and streams aren’t a big deal if it only kills small plants and animals, but when these species dwindle or die off, it leaves nothing for larger predators to eat. This throws the entire ecosystem off balance. In addition, highly polluted water sources cause water filtration systems to work extra hard and sometimes miss filtering out harmful chemicals and bacteria before the water reaches homes and businesses.
These are just three of many reasons why clean water is important for good health. Consider what you can do to help ensure that everyone has access to drinkable water.